"What are you talking about!?" Angel retorted, "Who and what are you!" 

        "I am Kain, Angelus, a vampire, I would not expect such as you to understand that which you behold. As for who I am, I am you're undoing."

        "Vampire?" Angel said, baffled by Kain's words.

        "Allow me to show you." Kain raised his right arm. With his left hand, he scratched a circle around his arm. Blood flowed from the wound, flowing up his arm, collecting into a small ball in his hand. Angel watched, baffled at the act. Then Kain drew his hand back and threw the blood at Angel. 

        Angel held his hand up, expecting some kind of impact, but instead, the ball simply splashed against him.

        Soaked with blood Angel looked up at Kain, "All right, that was fairly pointless, is that some kind of ceremony?" Angel ran up the stairs at Kain. Kain didn't move, simply watching as though he was an observer. Ten steps, nine, -and Angel was seized by a sudden pain in his chest, he felt pressure in his heart, then in his throat, he shut his eyes against the pain. He felt like something within him was being ripped out. He opened his eyes, and saw blood flowing from him, he felt at his throat, the blood splashed against his hands, he followed it, flowing in a stream through the air, flowing into Kain's mouth. The creature was drinking the blood as it came to him. The pain stopped, he felt his body return to normal. 

        " I use my own blood as a weapon to drain you of yours. A risk, but worth the reward."

        Angel felt at his throat, there was no wound. It clicked, the desiccated bodies, the blood with no wounds. He had not found his enemy, his enemy had come to him. Angel summoned strength he hadn't known existed and charged Kain. Kain, it seemed, had not considered Angel's attempt to counter attack, and was tackled. They rolled, over and over, Kain stopping and kicking Angel off of him. Kain's unreadable face had changed to one of pure malice. "You'll pay for that insult Angelus!" Kain drew his sword and charged Angel. Angel dropped to the ground, using Kain's momentum to throw him out the window behind him. Angel ducked out of the way of the deadly sunrays, which poured through the broken glass. Angel went down over to the rails and jumped down to the first floor. He'd need to repair that window tonight. If that "Kain" had really been a vampire, he's long dead by now. Angel breathed a sigh of relief. This threat was over. Now, on to the next task. 

        "A nice attempt, Angelus."

        Angel turned around. He saw Kain again standing atop his stairs, the harsh sunlight behind him forming a formidable-looking silhouette.

        "Allow me to return the favor!" Kain seemed to fly more than leap, down the stairs, fist first. Angel didn't have time to dodge, the solid fist connected to Angel's jaw at about one hundred miles per hour. Angel was spun around even as he was knocked into the air. He rolled with the blow, rose back to his feet, and slammed Kain against a wall, his sword knocked from his fist. Then they both went through it. Kain pushed Angel off him, getting back to his feet. Angel did likewise. Both faced each other again. Then they both realized where they were, Angel's weapon storage. Angel grabbed his axe, Kain took a sword off the wall. Angel swung his axe at Kain's head, with incredible strength, Kain blocked it with the sword, the two weapons sparked as they crashed. Angel and Kain were face to face, Kain's sword holding Angel's axe at bay, and vise versa. Angel's face warped, not just by his form, but by rage, blind, pure rage. Kain's just as twisted. They were of one mind, each determined to kill one another. Not for justice anymore, not for duty, it was beyond both ideals. They would kill. And it would be for the sake of killing alone. Murder was the scent in the air. It drove each of their movements. When Kain threw an energy bolt to kill Angel. When Angel dodged and retaliated with another attempt on Kain's life. No pity was felt, no quarter was asked, no mercy would be granted. Yet, neither could best the other. They fought through the day, through high noon their battle raged, from room to room, walls were no obstacle, weapons were aplenty, it seemed it would never end. But as the sun began to set, both were weakening, and by dusk, neither could stand up. Even the approaching night could not grant Kain more strength. They had each given their all, and it was still not enough. Kain leaned against a wall, out of breath, his blood was low. So close, if I can just make one more strike. But he could not, his body would not let him. All he could do was lean against the wall. Angel was in no better state, hanging onto the banister. Just a bit further, if I can just push a bit further. But it seemed that neither was going anywhere any time soon. 

        An awkward silence prevailed. In their burning desire to win, both had lost. But neither one was willing to concede. Each knowing that the second they admitted defeat, the other would come forth and kill him. They rested, staring icily at one another. As they did, they began to cool down. Kain sat down on the floor, his sword still in hand. Angel did the same, releasing the banister and falling to the side of the stairs, axe still ready, just in case. They soon realized that they were not in a hurry to return to battle. But neither would show any weakness before the other. It was Angel, who would finally speak.

        "Why did you kill those kids."

        "What does it matter? I was hungry and they attacked me. I need no excuses."

        "And the families you kidnapped from thin air? The markings on the wall? What were they for?"

        Kain was plainly puzzled, "What are you speaking of? I've taken no families, what markings?"

        Angel had a hard time buying that, "You're trying to say that you had no part in the disappearance of those people?"

        "No. "

        Angel felt like an anvil had been dropped on his head. He'd been fighting the wrong person all this time. He still had no answer to the symbols. 

        "I admit I killed the hunters, but I have lain hands on no innocents, save the girl." He gestured towards the body of the black-dressed girl. 

        "Why did you kill her?"

        "I wished to make a good entrance, she was outside your mansion. I simply replaced her soul with my own. It gives me control over the victim, though sadly, the victim does not survive."

        "One more question, why did you attack me?" 

        Kain seemed reluctant to answer this question.

        "Who told you to come after me?"

        "A man named Lucien Dorn. He claims to be the ruler of a law firm, something called Wolfram and Hart"

        "That would explain it."

        "Explain what?" 

        "Wolfram and Hart have been trying to kill me for some time now."

        "They didn't want you dead, they wanted me to bring you to them."

        Angel wasn't sure he heard right, "They wanted you to bring me to them?"

        "Yes" Kain seemed surprised that Angel was surprised. 

        "Why?"

        Kain listened to everything Lucien Dorn said to him. His excitement growing with each word. It seems that the 'Unspoken,' Hash' ak' gik, desired to return to Nosgoth. Kain's destiny, according to the man before him, was to destroy Hash' ak' gik once and for all. To do this, the soul of his vassal had to be destroyed. The vassal was called Angelus, he showed history texts to Kain. They described the various horrors inflicted by this creature of the night. Angelus was a heart of purest darkness, given time, he would become the embodiment of Hash' ak' gik, unstoppable. With each day he remained free, he became more powerful. Kain's role was to bring the Angelus to Lucien and his people, they knew how to destroy Angelus' body and shatter his soul, sealing Hash' ak' gik forever in the abyss. After which, Kain would become the rightful ruler of all Nosgoth, and of the world. Beware, to Angelus, nothing was sacred, he even claims himself to be a vampire, his spawn ran rampant through the city wreaking havoc, Kain nodded at this, knowing fully well of these creatures. "You must capture him, Kain, if he is merely killed, his soul will find a new body, just as the last time, and Hash' ak' gik will gain more power." With that, Kain set out to find his enemy, and bring Hash' ak' gik to his knees.

        "That is how I came to be here."

        "So then, why were you trying to kill me?"

        "I thought this would be easy, I must admit, my temper does get the better of me at times."

        "In other words, you got mad and forgot what you were doing."

        "I don't recall you asking questions either, Angelus"

        "Let me try to set you straight. I have no idea who Hash' ak' gik is. Never heard of him. Yes, I did terrible things long ago. That was before I was cursed."

        "What curse do you speak of?"

        "You claimed to be a vampire, you must know."

        Kain made no sound, he sat their with his arms crossed, his mind seemingly equally closed.

        "When a vampire is created, his soul dies, a demonic spirit takes its place. I became particularly vicious, you have no idea how much blood is on my hands. And without my soul, I no longer felt the pain, I no longer paid for my crimes. All that changed in a night. I ran afoul of the Romani, gypsies, I killed one of their beloved daughters. As punishment, they placed a curse on me, one that restored my soul. The memories came flooding back to me. The remorse of a monster suddenly made human wracked my soul. The killings, the murders, you would think you would have forgotten some of it. But I remembered everything in crisp, clear, detail. That was the punishment they put on me."

        Kain listened to what Angel said. He seemed unsure as to whether to believe him or not. "Whatever creature you are, I don't really care. You are not a vampire. I have been one, known them, there are several ways to bring one about, but the result is always the same, a body reanimated by a soul anchored into it. Great power, but existence as a denial of everything natural."

        Angel seemed just as puzzled. "Never mind, it's probably better not to try to understand." Kain seemed to agree. "So what now?"

        "What do you mean?" Kain responded.

        "I'll be up again in a few minutes, you want to keep trying to kill each other?"

        Clearly, Kain had planned to do exactly that. But recently acquired knowledge had given him a change of targets. "Do not think we are through yet Angelus, you have proven yourself to be as powerful as myself, and I cannot allow that to be true. I intend to kill Lucien Dorn, and when I have finished with him, I will return and end your existence, Hash' ak' gik's vassal or not."

        Kain stood up and walked out of the room.

        Charming. Angel thought to himself. 

        Angel fully intended to sleep this off, and then, well, then he'd figure out what he would do about Kain. Whatever Kain was. Was he a vampire? He doesn't look like one. No. If he were a vampire he would never have been able to withstand that much sunlight. Remembering how he tossed Kain out into the day. Angel rested a minute or two more before standing up. A man named Lucien Dorn. Of course, it was no surprise that Wolfram and Hart were behind this whole thing. But why did they want me taken alive? No idea. Back where he started, he knew who was behind it now, so he had another lead to follow, but still no answers. I just hope Kain doesn't kill Lindsey and Lilah before I've had the chance to beat some answers out of them. He walked out of the room, questions burning in his brain. His friends he had forsaken couldn't help him, his own resources had failed him. The only connection to this whole mess who might, just might, have some idea what was going on was a demon that wanted to kill him. Maybe I'll be able to talk again before he tries. Or Lindsey might be willing to "donate" a few answers. More frustration at the incompetence he felt. Angel was surprised to walk into his lobby and find Kain still there. He was at Angel's table, studying the photographs of the walls. 

        Kain's head came up and looked at Angel. "Angelus, where did you get these?"

        Angel responded, "Those are the symbols on the walls I told you about. I've had a hell of a headache trying to figure out what they mean. No text or contact of mine knows anything about them."

        Kain nodded, "They wouldn't."

        Angel perked up immediately, "You can read them! Tell me what they mean."

        Kain had a grave look on his face. His perpetual scowl seeming to deepen. "I've read this before, it's ancient Nosgothic script. Ancient even in my time. Only nobles were ever taught it. For prayer and worship." A sarcastic smile crossed Kain's face, "I read it in a tome beneath Avernus cathedral. These symbols, placed on different walls, when placed together they spell out a piece of a prayer. 'And they sacrificed their first-born unto me, that I may take nourishment from them'"

        Angel had hoped that would clear everything up for him. "What does it mean?"

        "It is a prayer to Hash'ak'gik, the Unspoken. You spoke of families being taken, seemingly out of thin air? I guarantee you they are in the possession of Hash'ak'gik's worshippers, and they are either dead now or about to die."

        "I can't let that happen."

        "You intend to try and rescue them? It will do no good to attempt an attack. They will simply capture you and use you for whatever purpose they wish."

        "It's what I do, Kain. Wolfram and Hart has kidnapped whole families, if you're right, they plan to or already have killed them. I've made it my personal mission to pay it back to them."

        Kain didn't seem impressed with Angel's resolve. 

        "Kain, you have a vendetta against Wolfram and Hart for tricking you, from your voice, it seems you don't like this Hash'ak'gik too much. How about we make a deal. "

        "What kind of deal?"

        "You help me break in and find those families. You get to kill Dorn, finish off any trace of Hash, and when it's all over, we can go back to trying to kill each other."

        "Deal."